MLB Player News

The Diamondbacks recalled Locklear from Triple-A Reno and placed him on the 60-day injured list Saturday due to a fractured right thumb.

Locklear was dispatched to Triple-A last month but was summoned back to the big leagues Saturday so the team could place him on the 60-day IL to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Pavin Smith. The move effectively ends Locklear's season after slashing .278/.357/.444 with one home run, six RBI, eight runs scored, one stolen base and a 4:9 BB:K across 42 plate appearances in the majors. He posted an .871 OPS with 10 homers and 46 RBI at Reno.

The Diamondbacks selected Smith's contract from Triple-A Reno on Saturday.

Smith opened the season as the Diamondbacks' main designated hitter against right-handed pitching, but he slashed just .141/.236/.192 with two extra-base hits and six RBI across 89 plate appearances before being DFA'd in early July. With Reno, Smith hit .301 with a .925 OPS across 181 trips to the plate to earn another chance at the big-league level.

Young went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored Saturday in a 12-2 victory over the Yankees.

Young capped the scoring in a big performance by the Mets' offense with his solo blast to right field in the ninth inning. It was his first homer since Aug. 14 -- a span of 24 games. Even during that power drought, Young swung the bat well, hitting .278 with 11 RBI and a 20.5 percent strikeout rate. He's at a .272/.333/.439 slash line on the season with nine homers, 45 runs, 38 RBI and three stolen bases through 98 contests.

If Sheets (foot) is able to return this season, he may be limited to working as a designated hitter and/or pinch hitter, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Sheets landed on the injured list Aug. 30 due to a left foot sprain. As of Sept. 8 he was still in a walking boot, and it's not certain that he'll be ready to rejoin San Diego before the end of the campaign. If Sheets does manage to make it back, he probably wouldn't be put in the field. Luis Campusano and Austin Hays have been getting most of the Padres' starts at DH of late, and Sheets could get occasional starts there while also serving as a bench bat.

Freeman (knee) will start at first base and bat second Saturday against the Marlins.

Freeman sat out the Dodgers' last two games while battling a knee injury, but he seems to be feeling well enough to play after a couple days of rest. The veteran first baseman has struggled at the plate since the beginning of September, going just 3-for-22 with nine strikeouts in seven games this month.

Guardians assistant general manager Matt Foreman said that Velazquez hasn't played for Triple-A Columbus since last Sunday due to lingering lower-body soreness, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Widely considered the Guardians' top prospect and regarded as one of the top power bats in the minors, Velazquez is being viewed as day-to-day and is expected to make it back into the Columbus lineup before the International League season concludes Sept. 20. The 21-year-old first baseman has hit .298 with 29 home runs across 117 games between Columbus and Double-A Akron this season.

Contreras (hamstring) served as the designated hitter and went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored for Double-A Portland on Friday.

Contreras, who kicked off a rehab assignment Friday, is scheduled to play first base for the Sea Dogs on Saturday. The Red Sox will reassess where he's at following Saturday's game.

Olson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 6-5 extra-innings win over the Phillies.

Olson opened the scoring with a solo homer off the left-field foul pole in the first inning. It was the 32-year-old's first homer in 10 September contests, and he entered the game just 4-for-32 to open the month. On the year, he's slashing .249/.323/.506 with 38 homers, 82 RBI, 95 runs scored and four steals across 640 plate appearances.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Friday that Hoskins (back) has begun a swing progression program, MLB.com reports.

Hoskins still has time to make it back from the injured list before the end of the regular season, though he'll need to take live at-bats in simulated games and/or head out on a minor-league rehab assignment prior to being activated. Once he rejoins the Guardians, Hoskins will likely occupy the short side of a platoon at first base with Nathaniel Lowe.

Steer (wrist) was cleared Friday to begin range-of-motion activity, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Steer was examined in Arizona by a specialist, who cleared him to increase activity. "All is going really well," manager Terry Francona said. "He will begin more range of motion [exercises], start to get a bat in his hand." That's good news for Steer, but it doesn't guarantee he'll return before the end of the regular season. "The goal is we want him to have a normal offseason," Francona said. "We might be pushing it if we try to do it by the end of the season." The Reds are considering having Steer play in the Arizona Fall League, which is typically reserved for prospects.